By Peter Najem
Before we get into why every distance runner needs to take indoor seriously, I want to introduce myself. I am Peter Najem. I ran XC (senior year) and track for Pinkerton (Class of 2005) and Keene State (Class of 2010). I was a state qualifier while at Pinkerton and a NCAA Division 3 All-American at Keene State. After college, I qualified for the USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships, twice. I have coached at the collegiate and high school levels and hope to coach again.
I wrote this after a conversation I had with an athlete. An athlete who was consistently a scorer on their XC team. I asked them if they were excited for indoor and I was met with an enthusiastic, “Ugh and No!” They explained to me that it’s not for them and the air is “gross.” How could someone hate indoor with all that it has to offer?
The transition from cross country to outdoor track is a long dark journey. The indoor track season, often dismissed by many athletes, is important for distance runners. Indoor track offers a unique blend of stress, strategy, and an unmatched atmosphere.
The greatest benefit of the indoor season is the number of available distances. Athletes accustomed to the 5k suddenly find themselves lining up for a 4×400 relay, or the most punishing race in my opinion, the 600. The typical indoor slate, including the 4×400, pushes runners outside their comfort zones. It mandates speed work for the stronger distance runners and builds critical aerobic capacity for middle-distance specialists. Not to mention, the opportunity to run the Distance Medley Relay. It is easy to get into the habit of thinking I am a 3k/5k runner and not giving your best effort in 4×400 or as a middle distance runner and not putting yourself in position to compete in a 1500 or 3k.
Indoor track is the perfect place for practicing pacing and race tactics, especially for the younger athletes on a standard 200-meter track, or even the shorter, tighter loops of UNH. The increased lap count necessitates being mindful of pace and position. The tighter turns and smaller space creates a premium on positioning. Athletes must practice holding their line and execute quick decisive moves to navigate the traffic which will develop. The intensity demands immediate reactions to cover moves and forces athletes to think on their feet to become racers rather than pace-followers.
Indoor track provides an unmatched confidence boost. The compact nature of an indoor facility means every event is right in front of you; unlike the sprawling layout of an outdoor meet. All the events are constantly visible and accessible to one another. This concentrated atmosphere fosters an infectious energy, allowing athletes to witness and support their teammates’ successes in the ring and in the pits. This constant, immediate, and visible support reinforces team solidarity and competitive motivation.
Indoor track is not a placeholder season; it is the forge where winning is hammered out. It addresses the weaknesses outdoor track often masks; the lack of raw speed, poor tactical decisions, and competitive sharpness. It requires athletes to compete in an array of distances, master race strategies, and embrace a high-energy competitive environment; indoor track establishes the powerful foundation of speed, strength, and confidence necessary to dominate in the spring.
I have witnessed teammates, competitors, and my own athletes talk themselves out of giving their best efforts and robbing themselves of valuable seconds and confidence. I will leave with a challenge to all distance runners. Embrace every race, 400 through 3k, it will make you a better racer.
Faster PRs await you.
